Bubbles bubbles bubbles updated

It seems like such a long time ago that we posted this little video of Alex - not even 3 months old - enthusing about these little soapy spheres of fun.

So here is an update, 15 months later... not much has changed

Backyard tradition

A few days ago Alex got to experience the ancient New Zealand tradition of sitting naked in a big shell filled with water in the backyard. Did the young man enjoy, and fully appreciate the significance of this important occasion? See the video to find out.

Byron Baby

Here are a few photos from the last leg of our Australian trip, where we stayed with Amma on the gold coast, had a lovely trip to a slightly soggy Byron Bay and visited the lovely Kate in Brisbane.


A tasty brunch and the morning papers in Byron


It's never too cold for a quick walk on the sand


A quick visit with Kate in Brisbane

Alfresco baby

Part of the appeal of moving bubba to the other side of the world is obviously the weather and the outdoor lifestyle that comes with more warm months. Given he's not yet walking, or even crawling for that matter (will he ever?) he can't fully appreciate the great outdoors.

One way we've made the most of it is through the great art of eating outdoors, as demonstrated by these photos. As well as being a lovely way to dine, or lunch or breakfast for that matter, the other bonus is it's much easier to clean up the um... slight mess which accompanies the darling boy whenever he has a meal. Win win!

Alex comes 'home'

OK, technically speaking it's not home for baby Alexander as he's never actually been to Australia before but given he's been to four continents and half a dozen countries in his relatively short life we can safely call him a united nations baby. Where ever he lays his nappy that's his home.

We actually arrived in Sydney over a week ago but both of us have been struck down with a range of ailments preventing us from doing any blog updating, and unfortunately little Alex can't quite reach the keyboard to update the blog himself... not yet anyway.



So far we've had a week being sheltered, fed, watered and generally spoilt by 'mean uncle hOb' whose is not living up to his name so far, we think he might be lulling us into a false sense of security.

We've also caught up with lots of lovely people, most of whom I managed to forget to photograph including: Nat & Miles, Sandra & Ian, Megan & Glenn, Nicole, Dan, Fern & baby Elliott, Lori, Steph, Belinda, Darren and the lovely and very tiny 2 week old Lily and last but definitely not least Rach and the gorgeous Emily. Phew!



Now we are in relaxation mode at Grandpa's house in the countryside. Alexander seems to enjoy staring at his newly discovered Grandpa for extended periods of time. Next we continue, all rejuvinated, up to Amma's place on the Gold Coast.

Current temperature in Merriwa: 24 degrees
Current temperature in London: 8 degrees

So far so good...

Help my baby is a carnivore!

So I have been doing my best to introduce baby Alexander to a wide range of foods now he's started on solids. As we're doing this baby led weaning business he usually gets something off my plate, which inevitably means vegetables or fish, and perhaps some bread or the odd noodle. We also taken some backup baby food with us to Bali which included the odd chicken, pea and pumpkin mush.

At the wedding on Sunday there was an amazing buffet spread so I thought it was a good opportunity to introduce Alex to some new foods. He's not been hugely interested in any particular food so I brought a small amount of beef, chicken and a few other bits. Well... when I waved the beef near him he almost bit my finger off. He then proceeded to suck the life out of it for a good 10 minutes. His enthusiasm for the dead cow was only surpassed by vigour with which he munched down the chicken.

Hmm... beef and chicken... OK. How exactly do I cook those? Any recipes where I don't actually have to touch raw meat are welcome below.

Alexander's not getting married

Well not yet anyway, but he has been to his first wedding. His uncle Adam married Christina on Sunday, the main reason for us all being in Bali. The wedding was beautiful in a magical setting and maybe unsurprisingly Alex was a little angel, not making a peep throughout the ceremony and falling asleep, on cue, during the speeches (well, no one's that perfect).

Alex has taken a real shine to his uncle, whom he's only just met, and of course the feeling is mutual. He's also had the pleasure meeting a whole raft of Butler clan, a virtual flock of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. We've also had reunions with lovely Aunty Sian and Nanna B. Combine that with the hotel staff and baby Alex might just explode with affection.

Weekend break with the girls

Young master Butler spent last weekend away in the Cotswolds with three young ladies - OK one of the ladies was his mum and the other two were his mum's friends' Sandra and Amy so not quite a playboy weekend.

He got a good dose of English countryside with thatched cottages, rainy walks, the odd dose of sunshine and an English pub with an open fire - and yes it's August so 'technically speaking' summer.

What now?

Now that Amma has gone home, Alex and I are just the tiniest bit at a loss for things to do. Initially I was nervous about venturing off to far flung places with a 3/4 month old bubby but now that it's all over and mum's gone back to Australia... well... I'm in need of diversion, entertainment, variety perhaps... our little West London flat just doesn't seem, I don't know, 'big' enough any more.

So I'm going to make a pledge to venture out with Alex more often, trying new things and making the most summer in the UK.

Oh dear, I've published the idea now so I'm going to prove it and actually document my adventures...

Paris me fait sourire

International travel with a 3 month old... part one. A long weekend in Paris. How's this going to go then? A 2 1/2 hour train trip followed by a long wait for a taxi at Gard du Nord in close to 30 degree heat and then navigating the narrow streets winding of Paris looking for somewhere to eat, feed or change... only to do it all again in reverse two days later.

Destined for disaster non?

Well... non! It seems our Alex is a natural jet setter, he barely made a peep on the Eurostar both ways, smiled and giggled all through the taxi lines and generally won admirers everywhere he went.

Lots of photos taken and mini adventures had so will have a few Parisian blog entries in the next few days but for now, here is a video which sums up Alex's mood in the city of lurve!